Page 90 of Marry in Haste
The Gimble brothers were as like as two peas in a pod, and close. They’d even married two sisters. They’d left the Rifle Brigade when the war was over and returned to their village, but times were tough, and they’d decided to migrate to America. Bert had gone ahead, while Joe had taken some jobs abroad to earn the money for fares for the wives and children, and to give them a good start in a new country.
Cal was sure he knew what those jobs had been.
“When did Joe and the women and children leave?” Cal asked. It couldn’t have been long. There was the end of aloaf of bread on the table. It was not yet moldy, nor eaten by mice. The old man contemplated his pipe and waited until Cal produced another coin.
“Left yesterday morn, in a rush. Dunno why—they bin talking about going to America for a couple o’ years. Bert, ’e went first, going ahead, like, to make things ready for their wives and the little ’uns. Got a farm ’e as, all ready for ’em. Wrote ’em a letter to say so and all.”
“When was this?”
“The letter from America?” He puffed a cloud of reeking smoke as he considered it. “Couple a’ months back, I reckon. Don’t exactly remember, but it was afore Christmas. Lots of excitement when it come, see.”
Cal jerked his head at the cottages. “Looks to me like they left in a hurry.”
The old man nodded. “Joe come back sudden like day afore yesterday—well, he comes and goes, does Joe, never know where he be—but this time he come back from Lunnon and whatever he told them got ’em all stirred up and by the next mornin’ they was all packed up and gorn.” He grinned knowingly and sucked on his pipe. “Told ye, I did—they’ve gorn.”
Cal swore under his breath. Obviously Joe had been tipped off by someone that people had been investigating the activities of former Riflemen. “Where did they go? Which direction?”
The old man gestured with his reeking pipe. “Lunnon.”
“London?” Cal queried sharply. “You’re sure it was London, not Liverpool or Bristol?” Ships bound for America most often left from Bristol or Liverpool.
The old man shook his head. “No, it was Lunnon for sure. Heard Joe say he was owed money there and would collect before they left.”
“Thank you.” Cal tossed the old fellow a last coin, mounted his horse and headed for home. Dammit! If he hadn’t spent the day before with the girls and his wife...
Chapter Seventeen
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...
—WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE,AS YOU LIKE IT
“I’m leaving for London first thing in the morning,” Cal told Emm over a late supper. He’d told her how he’d just missed the man he was sure was the Scorpion. “He would have left while we were riding aimlessly around the estate.”
“It wasn’t aimless in the least,” she said calmly. “It was exactly what you and the girls needed. And I was glad to get to know the estate a little. Besides, if the fellow you’re chasing left at first light yesterday morning, you still would have missed him, albeit by a few hours instead of a whole day. Still, I’m sure you’ll catch him.” She rose and moved to the door. “I’ll tell the girls to be packed and ready to leave after breakfast, then.”
He frowned. “The girls? No, I’m not taking the girls.” He hadn’t planned to take anyone. Not even his wife.
She turned back, one eyebrow raised. “You can’t possibly leave them here.”
“Why not? This is their home.”
She gave him a pointed look. “Don’t imagine one day of riding and brotherly pleasantness will rid them of the suspicion that you mean to dump them in the country—particularly if you then do dump them here while you go swanning off to London.”
“I’m notswanninganywhere. I’m pursuing a criminal.”
“Yes, in London,” she said serenely. “And we will cometoo. We’ll need to order a great many clothes if all three girls are to make their come-out this spring, you know. Men never have the least idea how much preparation is involved. Oh, the girls will be so excited. I must tell them before they retire for the night.”
“Madam,” he began.
She paused, her brow crinkling. “Do you think the antiquated old coach in the stables will be up to the journey, or should we hire a second carriage? We’ll need at least two carriages for all of us, including Milly, my maid, and the dog, of course.”
“Madam, I’m not taking the carriage anywhere! It’s far too slow for my purposes. I’m riding, which is why—”
